LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 16: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the Los Angeles Clippers battles Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz for a rebound through the first half of a recreation at Staples Middle on January 16, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: Consumer expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or utilizing this photograph, Consumer is consenting to the phrases and circumstances of the Getty Photographs License Settlement. (Photograph by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Photographs)

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 16: Avery Bradley #11 of the Los Angeles Clippers defends agains the dribble of Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz in the course of the first half of a recreation at Staples Middle on January 16, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: Consumer expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or utilizing this photograph, Consumer is consenting to the phrases and circumstances of the Getty Pictures License Settlement. (Photograph by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Photographs)

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 16: Lou Williams #23 of the Los Angeles Clippers defends towards the dribble of Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz through the first half of a recreation at Staples Middle on January 16, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: Consumer expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or utilizing this photograph, Consumer is consenting to the phrases and circumstances of the Getty Photographs License Settlement. (Photograph by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Photographs)

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 16: Tyrone Wallace #9 of the Los Angeles Clippers defends towards Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz in the course of the first half of a recreation at Staples Middle on January 16, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: Consumer expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or utilizing this photograph, Consumer is consenting to the phrases and circumstances of the Getty Pictures License Settlement. (Photograph by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Photographs)

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 16: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the Los Angeles Clippers battles Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz for a rebound in the course of the first half of a recreation at Staples Middle on January 16, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: Consumer expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or utilizing this photograph, Consumer is consenting to the phrases and circumstances of the Getty Photographs License Settlement. (Photograph by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Photographs)

Utah’s Donovan Mitchell dribbles previous the Clippers’ Montrezl Harrell, middle, through the first half of a recreation at Staples Middle on January 16, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: Consumer expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or utilizing this photograph, Consumer is consenting to the phrases and circumstances of the Getty Photographs License Settlement. (Photograph by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Photographs)

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 16: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz calls a play as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Los Angeles Clippers defends through the first half of a recreation at Staples Middle on January 16, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: Consumer expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or utilizing this photograph, Consumer is consenting to the phrases and circumstances of the Getty Photographs License Settlement. (Photograph by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Photographs)

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 16: Lou Williams #23 of the Los Angeles Clippers appears on through the first half of a recreation towards the Utah Jazz at Staples Middle on January 16, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: Consumer expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or utilizing this photograph, Consumer is consenting to the phrases and circumstances of the Getty Photographs License Settlement. (Photograph by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Photographs)

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 16: Johnathan Motley #15 of the Los Angeles Clippers battles Ekpe Udoh #33 of the Utah Jazz for a rebound through the second half of a recreation at Staples Middle on January 16, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The Utah Jazz defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 129-109. NOTE TO USER: Consumer expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or utilizing this photograph, Consumer is consenting to the phrases and circumstances of the Getty Pictures License Settlement. (Photograph by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Pictures)

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 16: Johnathan Motley #15 of the Los Angeles Clippers dunks the ball in the course of the second half of a recreation towards the Utah Jazz at Staples Middle on January 16, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The Utah Jazz defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 129-109. NOTE TO USER: Consumer expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or utilizing this photograph, Consumer is consenting to the phrases and circumstances of the Getty Photographs License Settlement. (Photograph by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Photographs)

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 16: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the Los Angeles Clippers battles Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz for a unfastened ball in the course of the second half of a recreation at Staples Middle on January 16, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The Utah Jazz defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 129-109. NOTE TO USER: Consumer expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or utilizing this photograph, Consumer is consenting to the phrases and circumstances of the Getty Pictures License Settlement. (Photograph by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Photographs)

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 16: Boban Marjanovic #51 of the Los Angeles Clippers shoots over the protection of Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz through the second half of a recreation at Staples Middle on January 16, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The Utah Jazz defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 129-109. NOTE TO USER: Consumer expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or utilizing this photograph, Consumer is consenting to the phrases and circumstances of the Getty Photographs License Settlement. (Photograph by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Pictures)

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 16: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the Los Angeles Clippers calls out to his teammates in the course of the second half of a recreation towards the Utah Jazz at Staples Middle on January 16, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The Utah Jazz defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 129-109. NOTE TO USER: Consumer expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or utilizing this photograph, Consumer is consenting to the phrases and circumstances of the Getty Pictures License Settlement. (Photograph by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Pictures)

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 16: Derrick Favors #15 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz rebound over Patrick Beverley #21 of the Los Angeles Clippers through the second half of a recreation at Staples Middle on January 16, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The Utah Jazz defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 129-109. NOTE TO USER: Consumer expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or utilizing this photograph, Consumer is consenting to the phrases and circumstances of the Getty Pictures License Settlement. (Photograph by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Pictures)

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 16: Grayson Allen #24 of the Utah Jazz battles Johnathan Motley #15 of the Los Angeles Clippers for place in the course of the second half of a recreation at Staples Middle on January 16, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The Utah Jazz defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 129-109. NOTE TO USER: Consumer expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or utilizing this photograph, Consumer is consenting to the phrases and circumstances of the Getty Pictures License Settlement. (Photograph by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Photographs)

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 16: Head coach Doc Rivers of the Los Angeles Clippers seems to be on in the course of the second half of a recreation towards the Utah Jazz at Staples Middle on January 16, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The Utah Jazz defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 129-109. NOTE TO USER: Consumer expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or utilizing this photograph, Consumer is consenting to the phrases and circumstances of the Getty Pictures License Settlement. (Photograph by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Pictures)

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 16: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the Los Angeles Clippers passes the ball previous Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz through the second half of a recreation at Staples Middle on January 16, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The Utah Jazz defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 129-109. NOTE TO USER: Consumer expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or utilizing this photograph, Consumer is consenting to the phrases and circumstances of the Getty Photographs License Settlement. (Photograph by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Photographs)

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 16: Jae Crowder #99 and Grayson Allen #24 of the Utah Jazz defend towards Tyrone Wallace #9 of the Los Angeles Clippers in the course of the second half of a recreation at Staples Middle on January 16, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The Utah Jazz defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 129-109. NOTE TO USER: Consumer expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or utilizing this photograph, Consumer is consenting to the phrases and circumstances of the Getty Pictures License Settlement. (Photograph by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Pictures)

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 16: Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz defends towards Tobias Harris #34 of the Los Angeles Clippers through the second half of a recreation at Staples Middle on January 16, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The Utah Jazz defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 129-109. NOTE TO USER: Consumer expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or utilizing this photograph, Consumer is consenting to the phrases and circumstances of the Getty Pictures License Settlement. (Photograph by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Pictures)

“They’re in a lot of ways, they play a lot like us, as far as offensively,” Rivers stated, describing Wednesday’s opponent, and his group, in higher occasions. “They share the ball, they attack the paint and they make the next pass … and the ball finds that guy and that guy shoots.”

The Jazz performed that tune higher than the house staff, defeating the Clippers 129-109.

It was the Clippers’ fourth consecutive defeat, equaling their longest slide this season. It additionally was their third consecutive loss towards a Western Convention opponent.

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The Clippers sputtered once more within the first and third quarters and, once more, leaned on their reserves to save the day, a troublesome activity towards Rudy Gobert and his surging Jazz teammates, who gained their fifth recreation in a row. The 7-foot-2 middle with the 7-9 wingspan proved to be a disruptor of the tallest order, blocking 4 photographs and thwarting the Clippers within the paint.

Speak of the demise of the normal middle appears untimely, particularly these days at Staples Middle, the place the Clippers have been burned by bigs comparable to LaMarcus Aldridge (38 factors), Joel Embiid (28), Andre Drummond (20 and 21 rebounds), Anthony Davis (46 factors, 16 rebounds), and on Wednesday it was Gobert, who completed with 23 factors and 22 rebounds.

Gobert was a game-changer however it wasn’t solely him. Utah – which went 30 for 37 from the free-throw line, the place it completed with 23 extra makes an attempt than the Clippers – had six gamers rating in double figures. Donovan Mitchell led Utah with 28 factors.

The Clippers – who have been hampered by miscommunication and uncharacteristic misses across the rim, even with out Gobert looming – obtained solely 23 factors mixed from sometimes productive forwards Tobias Harris and Danilo Gallinari, who have mixed to rating fewer factors solely as soon as this season.

Lou Williams led the Clippers off the bench with 23 factors, the 12th consecutive recreation he scored at the very least 15 factors to prolong his NBA-leading streak by a reserve.

The sport began with one of many Clippers’ chronically sluggish begins, and Rivers discovered himself having to throw mixtures on the wall, making an attempt to discover a lineup that may stick.

With 10:27 left within the second quarter, Rivers inserted seldom-used reserve Sindarius Thornwell alongside with fellow reserves Mike Scott, Patrick Beverley, Montrezl Harrell and Patrick Beverley, who collectively obtained the Clippers pointed in the appropriate course after they trailed by as many as 13 factors.

With that 5 on the ground, the Clippers took off on a 12-Zero run to reduce the Jazz lead to one. Avery Bradley (15 factors) tied the rating at 41 with certainly one of his three first-half Three-pointers.

Utah outscored the Clippers 15-Eight to shut the primary half forward 56-49. The Jazz shot 11 extra free throws than the Clippers within the first 24 minutes, going 11 for 13 from the free-throw line whereas the house staff’s solely two foul photographs got here courtesy of Thornwell (who made each).

“When we don’t start out getting stops, we’re not very good,” Rivers stated earlier than the sport. “And that (starting) lineup should be a good defensive lineup and it hasn’t been of late.”

It wasn’t Wednesday, when the Jazz shot 62.5 % from the sector within the first 9 minutes, together with changing seven of their eight photographs within the paint for 14 factors.